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Why Should You Take Paddleboard Lessons

Starting stand-up paddleboarding can seem daunting to start.

Being familiar with how to SUP and what gear to bring is essential before setting out on the water for the first time. Standing upright on a buoyant board enough to support a person’s weight may look easy, but it’s not as simple as you think.

Island Marine Rentals is here to ensure you experience paddleboarding on a whole new level. Learn why paddleboard lessons are necessary here.

Learning to Paddleboard: Are Lessons Necessary?

You don’t have to take lessons, but they are an excellent way to become more comfortable with stand-up paddling among those with experience. SUP lessons teach you how to paddle safely and how water conditions impact paddling.

You can learn paddleboarding on your own, but professional paddleboard training helps. There’s only so much you can learn independently, and it guarantees you are better equipped to handle the water’s unpredictability.

Why Should You Take SUP Lessons?

Here are some compelling reasons why you should invest in paddleboard training:

1. Weather Patterns and Water Conditions

Instructors can help paddlers determine which water conditions and weather patterns are safe for them to paddle in. This is particularly important when there is a strong current.
Paddlers are in danger of being swept away by the currents or drowned if they are separated from their paddleboard in dangerous waters. Windy weather can make the current stronger, and it may lead you in the wrong direction.

2. Safety

Paddleboard lessons are safer than trying to master the board yourself. This is particularly true in environments where paddlers might fall off their boards and get swept by currents or tossed by heavy surf.

3. Equipment Knowledge

A SUP board is considered a watercraft when you take it out of designated areas, which will require you to wear safety gear. This sport is easy to learn and doesn’t require much equipment; however, you should still be familiar with the equipment you should be using.

Each state will have different rules regarding what gear to require. A local instructor can tell you precisely what you should do to avoid an encounter with the Coast Guard.

4. Paddle Efficiency

Within 60 minutes, most people are comfortable with their paddleboards. As with any sport, there are tricks and tips to help you improve. It is important to know how to stroke properly to avoid injury and make your paddles more efficient.

Turning is a significant struggle for first-time paddlers. You can improve your paddling in many ways, including reaching, hinging, and rotating. An instructor will discuss how to use different turns in different situations as part of paddleboard lessons.

5. Experience

Paddling with instructors who have a lot of experience is safer than doing it alone. Even paddling in relatively calm waters might cause you to lose your balance and quickly turn the situation around if you don’t know what you’re doing.

A stand up paddleboard instructor will show you how to best handle any emergencies on the water.

6. Safety in Numbers

It’s risky to steer any watercraft yourself if it’s your first time. New paddlers shouldn’t go solo. When you are learning to paddle, it is better to have a group of people keeping an eye on you.

7. No Financial Risk

When learning to paddleboard, it usually includes equipment rental; you won’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on equipment for a sport you are not fully committed to.

Since not everyone lives near bodies of water, lessons will allow you to utilize what you learn when you go out of town.

Where Can You Avail of Paddleboarding Lessons?

You can take paddling lessons in many places. Check these outlets out to help you in your search:

1. Online

An online search can generate multiple options for outlets and paddling lessons based on your location. You can then choose the SUP program that suits you best. Looking online also allows you to read customer reviews.

2. Paddleboard Rentals

A rental shop can offer affordable lessons for beginners if you are visiting a tourist area. Although these lessons are geared toward beginners, the instructors often have more advanced lessons available for paddlers who have already learned the basics.

What Could You Learn From Paddleboarding Lessons?

Taking lessons before diving in is a great way to learn, especially if it’s your first time. Here are some basics you’ll learn:

1. Essential Strokes

The strokes required for racing or SUP paddling are different from those for whitewater paddling. A great instructor will teach you to use various strokes, depending on your situation

2. Recovery Techniques

Falling from a stand up paddleboard is dangerous, especially if it doesn’t have a leash. You could lose contact with it in turbulent waters. Instructors can show you how to get on a paddleboard safely and efficiently.

3. Turning Techniques

You need to turn your board smoothly, especially if it gets caught in a strong current or riptide, and you have to fight against it to return to shore. An instructor can help you turn without losing your balance.

4. Balance Techniques

Paddleboard lessons can improve your overall balance. An instructor can help you maintain your balance on the water, so you don’t have to spend too much time climbing back up.

5. Body Positioning and Stance

The body positioning for paddling varies, depending on the water conditions and your purpose. An instructor can help you learn the best ways to ensure you avoid falling over while adjusting your position.

Have Fun With Island Marine Rentals

If you’re looking for a paddleboard rental in Clearwater Beach, choose us.

We have different rental packages perfect for your next water adventure. You can choose from our 1-, 2-, 4-, 8-, 24-hour packages. You can also extend your rental for a day for only $45.

We also have a 1-week rental package for $225. Our rentals come with a life vest, stainless steel whistle, dollies, transportation strap, and paddle. If this is your first time, we provide free basic paddleboard lessons to help you have an enjoyable time.

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